Sponsor: Making is a bi-annual handcrafts publication created by Carrie Bostick Hoge of Madder, that brings crafts people from different areas of focus to one publication. The act of making helps to connect us to the past, knowing that many craft skills were practiced daily out of necessity. We also connect to our present, as we stop to slow down and enjoy the work at hand, leaving behind the stress of our busy days. And, possibly at the heart of our creations, is the future. As the sweater we knit or the blanket we quilt becomes an heirloom for our family to use, enjoy, and pass down to the next generation. Circling back and tying us to the past. All these connections are equally important and help to bring meaning and value to the beauty and utility we make. Subscriptions just opened for 2017, with the Spring issue DOTS shipping in May, which includes a Q & A piece with today’s guest Maura Ambrose and myself, and the Fall issue LINES shipping in October. This year you’ll enjoy projects, essays and more from And if you missed past issues, they’ll be available beginning next week from the shop. Make sure to visit makingzine.com to subscribe and follow along on the blog and Instagram @makingzine.

Fiber folk: When it comes to quilting, few are as passionate, dedicated and adorable as Maura Grace Ambrose of Folk Fibers. Through hand quilted elegance and natural dyeing exploration, Maura has created a mesmerizing collection of some of the most beautiful quilts I’ve ever seen. Her journey has lead her to a place where her craft comes second only to her family and the home they’ve created. I hope you enjoy getting to know Maura and her passions. You can find Maura at folkfibers.com and on Instagram @folkfibers.

Sponsor: Scratch is an innovative new yarn and craft supply shop located in Lebanon, New Hampshire. They’re committed to providing a beautifully curated selection of yarns and supplies for knitters, as well as roving, tools, and kits for needle felters. Their shop also features embroidery, sewing, and select fine art supplies. Scratch operates with the guiding notion that makers are curious and creative, and should be able to find exciting, high quality materials to work with all in one place.

Scratch is also home to the areas only handcraft focused maker space–home to a sewing bar, multiple looms, common workspace, a tool library, and more! Explore their full schedule of classes, and weekly Craft Night focused on building the creative community in the Upper Valley.

Giveaway: The winner of last weeks episode giveaway is Tiffany H. You’ve won a two year subscription to Taproot Magazine, 2 skeins of Stone Wool and 2 skeins of Greenbow Farm Lopi yarn. Congratulations!

This week’s giveaway is sponsored by Making Magazine and they’re giving away the Constellation Bandana Embroidery project kit along with Issue no. 1 FAUNA. To enter leave a comment on this blogpost.

126 Comments

I only have a few past podcasts left to listen to, so I have been spreading them out and savoring them. Each time you have a new episode posted I get a little thrill. So much inspiration that touches so many levels!

I always enjoy listening to your podcasts! So many wonderful stories you’re gathering that provide inspiration to a community of makers! I just ordered the second volume of Making and it’s such a treat! Love this publication!

So happy to hear about Maura Grace Ambrose. I ‘ve discovered her work a few years ago and that what made me begin patchwork, here in France! Her art is really wonderfull,and deep and beautiful; thank you for this interview.

Oh! Another lovely, inspiring episode! Thank you! And I just subscribed to Making too. Slow fashion, slow crafting, and respecting the materials, workmanship, usefulness, and beauty of the things we rely on are some of my favorite things about our community. Thanks again!

I LOVE Maura’s work. Her instagram is always super inspiring to me! I just subscribed to Making and the only issue I don’t have is the first one, so I’d love to win this week (and I am obsessed with constellation embroidery!)!

Great podcast. I too only handquilt; I think it adds to the beauty of the quilt and I like the idea of making the whole thing myself without needing all the expensive equipment that is needed with machine quilting. I remember doing natural dying back when I was in Girl Scouts, but I haven’t tried it for quite awhile!

Beautiful episode, as always! So excited about this giveaway as I just subscribed for this year’s Making magazines. I bought the second issue, but missed out on getting Issue Number 1. Crossing my fingers!

This was a lovely episode. I really enjoyed hearing Maura talk and when the two of you started talking about the joys of motherhood, well I couldn’t stop smiling. Thanks for all that goes in to putting on this podcast, it is very inspiring on so many levels.

That hand-quilting is just so gorgeous. I can’t wait to be able to do crafts with sharp needles again, but Toddler Helper is generally too helpful right now. Monthly crafting group, accompanied only by Newborn Helper, is my only chance for those. 😀

Beautiful! I have enjoyed following Maura and her Folk Fibers on instagram, I loved hearing more about her story and inspirations. I love her dedication to the integrity of her beautiful handcraft. Thank you always for sharing these stories!

I really loved listening to this episode. I’ve followed Maura for ages on instagram and love her quilts and I was so excited to listen to her story! It’s made me itch to get back to making quilts. Thanks for the beautiful episode!

Yet an other wonderfull podcast. <3
I have an attic almost like that in my swedish house; I keep finding new stuff, fx I noticed a box with something written on it, at first I thought it said "for a museum", but in fact it said: "Håndarbejdsmuseet i Abrahamshult" which means "the craft museum in Abramhamshult" (Abrahamshult is the tiny village where our house is)
It turned out to be craft from my mom, grandmother, great grandmother and her sister and their mom! It goes back to the late 1800! What a gift <3
(I shared something here – but it's in danish… http://knittingbee.dk/handarbejdsmuseum-i-odegarden/)

Thank you so much Ashley for this podcast… I felt so much beautiful inspiration coming out of Maura Grace Ambrose!
I have always loved natural dying but now she has pushed me to wanting to learn more more about this beautiful craft and her art! Loved her story ❤

Such an inspiring story! I couldn’t wait to look at her quilts. Quilting actually changed my life after I had my daughter and led me along the path to crochet and knitting. I can totally relate to Maura’s exploration of her Grandparents’ attic, as I too had a similar experience with my Great-grandparents’ attic and dressers full of vintage fabric, lace, notions and ribbon (some of which I still have).

I really enjoyed the story of Maura’s creative and fun ride so far, I particularly connected to her Grand Mothers influence, I learnt much at my Grand Mothers home, also, the memories of those times still have a strong and beautiful impact for me, my Grand Mother is long gone from the world, she lives on through me as I now begin to teach and enthuse my Grand daughter, history and memories ride on our needle and threads.

What loveliness! Maura’s work is truly stunning. I’ve been binge-listening to your podcast for the last few weeks while pacing with my youngest in the late hours. I’ve learned so much and have been greatly encouraged in my own journey towards more mindful choices in my yarn and projects, and in living more simply and self-sustainably with my family. Thank you for sharing your life with us!

Lovely episode. I await each Woolful podcast eagerly. But this time was extra special. I am not a knitter, just a textile lover and quilter. So this episode with Maura’s story and quilts was just perfect. It is so nice to know that other people are so enamoured by hand quilting and respect heirloom quilts. Thank you for sharing her wonderful story.

great episode! i love this reminder that when situations are approached with joy they become easier and everything just flows more. I’ve experienced that a lot but sometimes when I’m busy or stressed out I forget. I also love her talking about looking for treasure in the attic. I used to do that in my grandmothers sewing room with her numerous bins of fabric scraps. She was a lifelong quilter! 🙂

I have only recently discovered your podcast and find it so interesting and inspiring. It’s so wonderful to discover this worldwide group of passionate makers via the internet as I listen and knit down here in Australia. The magazine looks beautiful just from the cover. Thanks for the chance to maybe have one.

What a pleasure it was to share a few moments of Maura’s journey in her craft. It took me back to moments in my own childhood that could easily be overlooked but nonetheless shaped my own appreciation for craft, making and family.

Maura’s work is so unique, and it’s fun to hear all the backstory about her schooling and art. I’ve felt the same pull away from the computer screen and to more mindful, creative endeavors. The sacrifice may be in the steady paycheck, but the reward is in finding fulfillment in each day. Thanks!

Thank you so much for your devotion to your podcast! I really look forward to each episode. Thanks also to Carrie for her generosity in offering the second year of Making and the extras. I have made so much from Making ‘s first year and have not been able to sign up for the second…so here’s hoping!

I truly loved this episode! Maura’s story was especially inspiring. Her affinity for heritage and craft struck a note with me!
Thanks for bringing us into a wider community of makers and fiber lovers!
Gerri